Wording of this Handout:
Why the resurrection is important.
Frist af all, if Jesus did not rise for the dead, then he is just like all the other leaders: dead. A dead leader is useless. A dead leader gives his followers no advantage over anyone else because death finishes everything.
Secondly, if Jesus is not risen from the dead, then all the faith we Christians have in him is wasted. It doesn't' matter how hard we believe, or even what we believe, because it all ends with death.
Thirdly, if Jesus is not risen, then nobody can be forgiving their sins. The death or Jesus was only half of salvation. It takes a resurrection to finish the work.
Fourthly, if Jesus is not risen, it is pointless being a Christian. We might as well be an atheist, or an evolution, or nothing at all. Death finishes us all off no matter what we believe.
And fifthly, if Jesus is not risen, what stupid people Christians must be! They spend their lives sometimes suffering, sometimes going without for years, they work hard, they struggle,and they put up with mockery, torture and even death - for Jesus. But if Jesus is still dead, Christians might as well stay home and watch TV.
Dad, there's an angel at the door to see you.....and boy does he look mad!
The Bible says: "And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and you faith is also vain." 1 Corinthians 15:14 (King James Version)